John Levy: Resolution Adopted by the ACLU of Virginia (May 2015) Honoring His Four Decades of Service

by ACLU of Virginia
|
April 25, 2017

May 16, 2015: RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF VIRGINIA

WHEREAS, John Levy was one of the original founders of the ACLU of Virginia, and has steadfastly guided and nurtured the organization’s development to the present day;

WHEREAS, John has served on the Board of Directors of the ACLU of Virginia since the late Sixties, holding numerous offices including President and National Board Representative;

WHEREAS, John has served on the Legal Panel of the ACLU of Virginia since its inception, and acted as Chair for seventeen years;

WHEREAS, John has unflinchingly insisted throughout the organization’s existence that the ACLU of Virginia take on unpopular clients and cases in order to defend constitutional principles;

WHEREAS, John’s strong sense of legal ethics has made him a model for generations of ACLU of Virginia attorneys;

WHEREAS, John’s patience and wisdom have helped to support generations of ACLU of Virginia executive directors;

WHEREAS, John’s tact and diplomacy have fostered cooperation and civility on the Board and on the many committees on which he has served;

WHEREAS, John’s compassion and generosity of spirit have encouraged the ACLU of Virginia to champion the members of our society who are often ignored, oppressed, or vilified;

WHEREAS, for decades, John was the driving force for the recruitment of pro bono attorneys and has been directly or indirectly responsible for recruiting attorneys to handle at least 100 ACLU cases;

WHEREAS, John’s tireless promotion of access to justice both in and out of the ACLU has brought him honor and recognition throughout Virginia, as well as the Virginia State Bar’s 1998 Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Pro Bono Award;

WHEREAS, John’s hand-carved “feely fish” have nourished the souls of countless ACLU of Virginia staff and board members; and

WHEREAS, John’s example continuously reminds us all who we are and why we do the work we do;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the ACLU of Virginia Board of Directors expresses its gratitude to John Levy for his four decades of service and wishes him all the best in his future endeavors.